Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

COLUMBUS—Thanks to a generous grant from the Carolina Foothills Foundation, patrons can now check Wonderbooks out from Polk County Public Libraries.

Wonderbooks are hardcover books with an audiobook player built right into the front cover. Press play, and it’ll read aloud while you turn the pages. After reading along with the story, kids can switch Wonderbook into Learning Mode to experience educator-vetted questions that stimulate critical thinking and comprehension and foster meaningful dialogue between adults and children about the books they read.

Studies have shown that the combination of seen and heard words improves learning retention. When toddlers are read to, thousands of cells in their brains respond in a matter of seconds. It’s no surprise that children love being read to and when an adult isn’t available, multi-sensory reading tools like Wonderbooks combine written and spoken stories to instill a love of reading and set them up for lifelong learning. 

Polk County Public Libraries has two libraries, Columbus Library and Saluda Library, with books, movies, music, audiobooks, and downloadable eBooks and audiobooks available for checkout, as well as public computers and wireless internet access. PCPL also offers regularly scheduled virtual and in-person programs for all ages. 

To learn more, visit www.polklibrary.org.